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Police in terror threat warning Dissidents 'inept but dangerous'
(1 day later)
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has issued a warning of an "increased terrorist threat". Dissident republicans are inept but dangerous, Northern Ireland's chief constable has said.
In a statement the police said they were increasing operations across Northern Ireland to "disrupt" dissident republicans. Security is being stepped up across Northern Ireland after the police issued a warning of an "increased terrorist threat".
The police said the public are likely to notice increased police activity, including vehicle checkpoints. Detectives said the public are likely to notice increased activity, including vehicle checkpoints.
They appealed for people to be patient and co-operate with officers as well as reporting any suspicious activity. Sir Hugh Orde said: "We have a general warning of a threat which increased to the point where we had to go public."
They said the operation "is designed to ensure the safety of the whole community". Last week, police said they feared dissident republicans were preparing a series of firebomb attacks, but fresh intelligence of attacks led to this latest warning.
Last week police said they feared dissident republicans were preparing a series of firebomb attacks. What we are seeing is a group of disorganised but dangerous people lashing out - that's why we're concerned Sir Hugh OrdePSNI chief constable Sir Hugh said dissident republican groups had failed "to mount anything that's even close to being sustained".
"When you're a small cornered animal going in one direction, when Northern Ireland and indeed the universe is going in another, you lash out," he said.
"What we are seeing is a group of disorganised but dangerous people lashing out - that's why we're concerned."
Police have not issued such a threat warning in Northern Ireland for a number of years.
They have appealed for people to be patient and co-operate with officers as well as reporting any suspicious activity.
In November, the Real IRA shot two police officers in Londonderry and Dungannon, and police fear dissidents could be planning another shooting or bomb attack.